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What are the best countries to pursue an international career?

Get to know the best destinations where you can pursue your career internationally

If you dream of working abroad, you know this is a great opportunity to develop yourself professionally and to be successful. However, you should know the correct destinations.

Each country has its own characteristics, such as culture, economy and educational system. Additionally, it is important to consider what they have to offer to professionals who wish to work there temporarily or for an indefinite period of time.

If you want to know the best countries where you can pursue your career, you are in the right place. Let’s check the most suitable locations if you want to work outside your home country and what they have to offer.

A survey conducted by HSBC in 2017 listed 10 countries with the best international career opportunities, a very useful survey for those who are interested. The list consists of the following countries:

1 – Switzerland

Holds important qualities for those who want to work abroad, such as perspective of future gains. In the survey, 69% of the respondents stated improved balance between family and professional life, while 61% said that the work culture is better than in their countries of origin. The average annual income of the country is USD 188,275.00.

2 – Germany

A great destination for those who want job security, who want to gain experience, enjoy new opportunities, and have career growth.

3 – Sweden

A country whose work culture is better than that of the country of origin for 71% of the respondents.

4 – United Arab Emirates

56% of the respondents received free accommodation, while 75% reported having a health plan covered by the companies where they work, which are great benefits.

5 – Norway

A country where 87% of the respondents felt they had improved balance between work and family life than in their countries of origin. The work culture is also seen as positive.

The other countries in the list include, respectively, Singapore, Austria, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and Bahrain.

Overall, Europe is positive for those who want to grow their careers and have a good professional culture, while the Middle East brings good pay and benefits, and Asia is home to people who are satisfied with their choice.

What are the types of visas required to work abroad? How to get them?

The answer changes from country to country. As countries have different political systems and paperwork burdens, it is important to know the requirements imposed to those who want to work abroad and how they change from country to country.

In order to have an idea, you can check the types of visa used in the United States (which are plenty) and this can help you understand how other countries behave:

– Temporary work visa (non-agricultural): for professionals who will work temporarily in occupations whose local labor supply is not enough to meet the demand.

– Exchange visitor visa: an option for people who are entitled to go on student exchange programs to study and take associated jobs.

– Temporary work visa (skilled workers): aimed at professionals working in specific areas whose demand is not met by the local labor force.

– Seasonal agricultural worker visa: for agricultural purposes, since the offer in the United States is not that great in this area.

– Green card: an option for permanent residence. In some cases, the Department of Labor has to certify there are not enough professionals to meet a certain professional demand.

– Green card lottery program: visas are granted to potential immigrants randomly selected in a lottery process, immigrants who can contribute to the local economy and thus be considered permanent residents of the country.

Remember that this is only applicable to those who wish to work abroad, since processes and offers vary according to each country and their own policies and systems.

As for the necessary documents, they vary from country to country and according to the type of visa, but it is usually necessary to prove expertise in the field of practice, which can include diplomas and academic records.

Therefore, diplomas and academic information have to be translated by a sworn translator, a certified translator entitled to confer legal validity to a translation outside its country of origin.

Diplomas may also need to be validated so that they can be used in the desired country according to the field of study, like engineering, for example. Certain areas may not require such validation.

In addition, it is also necessary to proceed with the sworn translation of personal documents, such as birth certificate and marriage certificate, if any. For more information, visit the website of the consulate and the government of the country in question.

Start your career abroad

This is a challenging decision, but at the same time it is quite positive, especially for those who want to have new experiences and be faced with unique situations in their lives.

The steps required tend to be a bit complicated, both due to professional and academic qualification, indispensable for those who wish to work abroad, and to the need of having new experiences, such as culture, friends, and being away from family and friends.

Another aspect to be addressed is the importance of obtaining English proficiency certifications, such as TOEFL iBT, which attests your proficiency in this universal language and can be used all over the world. It is a key certification in different professions.

Also, paperwork burden must be carefully considered in each country, since it varies greatly. You have to be prepared to wait a few months and to follow different legal steps. But it is worth it.

Compare the options available, try to think of everything, from having to cope with a new culture to having your documents translated. Hire the services of an experienced translation agency and get ready to fulfill your dream of working abroad.